Sports Letters

Published: Sunday, August 14, 2005 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 14, 2005 at 12:48 p.m.

Times-News was welcome news to soldier stationed in Iraq

To the editor: My name is Sgt. Jason Baldwin. I am currently serving at Fort Stewart, Ga., under the 3rd Infantry Division.

I am writing the Times-News to let you know what a great job you and your staff have done over the last 10 years. I have served in many parts around the world as well as being part of one of the first units to knock down the walls of Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I can honestly say that I have seen hell at its worst and would have never been able to get through it at all without the support of my family and my fellow soldiers. But most of all, believe it or not, it was the local sports paper from back home that was sent to me by mail that really brought me some kind of sanity in a place like Iraq.

As a 1994 graduate of Hendersonville High School, I was given a chance to love and play high school ball in Henderson County, which as you know has its great traditions from Friday night intracounty rivals to the hardwood along with being on the baseball diamond. These are things I enjoyed and miss more than you will ever know.

You and your staff have done a great job capturing the accomplishments of our local athletes at their best and sometimes at their worst. But it was great to read no matter how great or not so great the article was. As my 10-year service to the Army and my country comes to an end due to an injury, I look forward to coming home with my wife and enjoying my family and my hometown. Thanks Hendersonville Times-News.

Army Sgt. Jason Baldwin Hendersonville

Paper needs less NASCAR, more women's golf and tennis

To the editor: The proximity of Champion Hills, Kenmure, Crooked Creek, Cummings Cove, Etowah, et al, suggests that there are quite a few players here who watch golf on TV and enjoy reading about the game, especially the important tournaments.

The 105-year-old U.S. Women's Amateur Championship (held at Biltmore Forest a few years ago) determines a national champion.

The paper did, however, give a full column on Page 1C and virtually half a page on 6C to people riding around in circles, which is about as interesting as watching your dirty clothes go around in the washing machine.

That is unless you consider the morbid fascination of the crashes. NASCAR's fans deny that anticipating crashes is the only interesting aspect. But what is it which the TV sports news invariably shows in its "highlights?" You know the answer -- the crashes.

Similarly, you gave no coverage to Peng Shuai's upset of Kim Clijsters in the Acura Tennis Classic. The emergence of China as an international powerhouse is significant, so the performance of one of its rising stars is really important sports news.

The composition of your readership is becoming less provincial. Allocation of sports section space needs to shift accordingly.

<p class="bold allcaps">Times-News was welcome news to soldier stationed in Iraq</p>
<p>To the editor: My name is Sgt. Jason Baldwin. I am currently serving at Fort Stewart, Ga., under the 3rd Infantry Division.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>I am writing the Times-News to let you know what a great job you and your staff have done over the last 10 years. I have served in many parts around the world as well as being part of one of the first units to knock down the walls of Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom.</p><p>I can honestly say that I have seen hell at its worst and would have never been able to get through it at all without the support of my family and my fellow soldiers. But most of all, believe it or not, it was the local sports paper from back home that was sent to me by mail that really brought me some kind of sanity in a place like Iraq.</p><p>As a 1994 graduate of Hendersonville High School, I was given a chance to love and play high school ball in Henderson County, which as you know has its great traditions from Friday night intracounty rivals to the hardwood along with being on the baseball diamond. These are things I enjoyed and miss more than you will ever know.</p><p>You and your staff have done a great job capturing the accomplishments of our local athletes at their best and sometimes at their worst. But it was great to read no matter how great or not so great the article was. As my 10-year service to the Army and my country comes to an end due to an injury, I look forward to coming home with my wife and enjoying my family and my hometown. Thanks Hendersonville Times-News.</p><p>Army Sgt. Jason Baldwin Hendersonville</p><p>Paper needs less NASCAR, more women's golf and tennis</p><p>To the editor: The proximity of Champion Hills, Kenmure, Crooked Creek, Cummings Cove, Etowah, et al, suggests that there are quite a few players here who watch golf on TV and enjoy reading about the game, especially the important tournaments.</p><p>The 105-year-old U.S. Women's Amateur Championship (held at Biltmore Forest a few years ago) determines a national champion.</p><p>Yet your sports pages for Sunday, Aug. 7, didn't merely give the current event scant coverage, it wasn't covered at all!</p><p>The paper did, however, give a full column on Page 1C and virtually half a page on 6C to people riding around in circles, which is about as interesting as watching your dirty clothes go around in the washing machine.</p><p>That is unless you consider the morbid fascination of the crashes. NASCAR's fans deny that anticipating crashes is the only interesting aspect. But what is it which the TV sports news invariably shows in its "highlights?" You know the answer -- the crashes.</p><p>Similarly, you gave no coverage to Peng Shuai's upset of Kim Clijsters in the Acura Tennis Classic. The emergence of China as an international powerhouse is significant, so the performance of one of its rising stars is really important sports news.</p><p>The composition of your readership is becoming less provincial. Allocation of sports section space needs to shift accordingly.</p><p>Vic Urbaitis Hendersonville</p>